Mahama’s failure prompted me to contest him – George Boateng

The 45-year old member of the National Democratic Congress who is set to challenge President John Dramani Mahama in the party’s primaries says his decision was borne out of Mahama’s difficulty in running the country.

“Mahama is having difficulty in running the country…He is not delivering on his promises,” Mr. George Boateng told TV3’s Martin Asiedu-Dartey on Midday Live few hours after picking his nomination form at the Party’s headquarters in Accra.

The man, who described himself as “a cover up member” of the NDC, claimed President Mahama has failed to live up to expectation considering the problems the country is facing, adding, “If we are voting right now NDC will not win”.

Mr. Boateng, who is the NDC’s Youth Organiser in Oyarifa, argued that President Mahama’s failure is manifested in the current electricity crisis and the National Health Insurance Scheme, which he said, "has collapsed."

He claimed he has ideas on how to solve the electricity crisis but “the leader doesn’t want to listen to us”.

Although he said he has been working underground in resolving issues within the party over the years, he is well known by both the executives and members across the country, hence upbeat about winning the party primary.

The freight-forwarder said his presidency would ensure the provision of basic social needs for Ghanaians, particularly security and infrastructural development, which he said is lacking in rural Ghana.

Asked about funding, the Mr. Boateng said, “nobody is funding me. I’m just a solicitor,” friends, relatives and even party members from the grassroots are all donating to his campaign.

He did not understand why the party executives have set GHC51, 000 as the filing fee for presidential candidates at a time that Ghanaians “are suffering”. He has thus asked the executives to review the fee that he described as “uncalled for”

Touching on the call by the party General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, to party members not to contest President Mahama in the primaries scheduled for November 7, he said, “That’s not good for democracy”.

Mr. Boateng said there are lots of people who would want to contest President Mahama in the primaries but are afraid to put themselves out there to be voted for because of intimidation.